Poland to spend $2.9 billion to acquire missile equipment from South Korea and US

Asia-Pacific, Europe, News, US April 26, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

Poland’s Ministry of National Defense signed a contract with South Korean defense firm, Hanwha Aerospace, to purchase 72 K239 Chunmoo multi-barreled missile launchers for approximately $1.64 billion, and a $1.275 billion contract to buy 360 Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles from the U.S.

The deal between Warsaw and Seoul was finalized on April 25, as a Polish delegation led by the country’s First Deputy Defense Minister Pawel Bejda visited South Korea. Poland had previously finalized arrangements to procure 218 Chunmoo missile launchers as part of the 2022 agreement, marking South Korea’s most extensive arms sale to date estimated at $22 billion.

According to a statement released by the South Korean defense manufacturer Hanwha Aerospace, the latest deal would take effect only after a separate financial contract, with government support, is signed by the end of November.

South Korean media reports said Polish officials are visiting state-backed export credit agencies (ECAs), including the Export-Import Bank of Korea, to negotiate financing of the deal.

Dobre wiadomości! Hanwha Aerospace podpisała drugi kontrakt wykonawczy z polską Agencją Uzbrojenia na dostawę 72 kolejnych systemów rakietowych Chunmoo oraz transwer technologii modułów wyrzutni. Umowa została podpisana przez przedstawicieli obu rządów. Wśród polskich delegatów… pic.twitter.com/s5cdWtDpUi
— Hanwha Aerospace Europe (@HanwhaEurope) April 25, 2024

Warsaw and Seoul are carrying out extensive discussions regarding the financial conditions of the ongoing South Korean weapon deliveries to Poland, which were initiated by the previous Polish administration.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s Cabinet, which took office last December, inherited several significant agreements for acquiring FA-50 light attack aircraft, K9 howitzers, K2 Black Panther tanks, and Chunmoo launchers.

The prior administration, led by the right-wing Law and Justice party, had established framework agreements with Seoul; however, the current centrist Cabinet must still secure financing for a significant portion of the equipment.

While deliveries commenced in 2023, many batches specified in the signed framework agreements remain pending for procurement via what the Polish refer to as executive contracts. Intense negotiations between Warsaw and Seoul are ongoing to resolve the financial aspects of additional acquisitions.

K9 Thunder advanced self-propelled howitzer. (Image Credit: Hanwha Defense)

In February 2024, Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Wladyslaw Kosiniak-Kamysz voiced criticism of the initial terms proposed by Seoul, deeming them unfavorable to Warsaw.

Separately, Poland also received approval from the U.S. State Department to purchase 360 Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missiles – Extended Range (AARGM-ER) from the United States. The proposed agreement, which encompasses maintenance assistance and spare parts, carries an estimated value of around $1.275 billion. However, congressional approval for the export is still pending.

The Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile – Extended Range (AARGM-ER), manufactured by Northrop Grumman Corporation, is an advanced variant of the AGM-88E Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM), designed to provide enhanced capabilities for targeting and neutralizing enemy air defense systems.

AARGM-ER has an extended range and improved performance features compared to the AGM-88E. It is specifically engineered to engage and destroy enemy air defense threats from greater distances, offering increased flexibility and effectiveness in various combat scenarios. With its advanced targeting and precision strike capabilities, AARGM-ER plays a crucial role in modern air warfare, enabling allied forces to suppress and neutralize hostile air defenses with heightened efficiency and accuracy.